Sindh Govt, Pakistan Railways Agree to Jointly Finalise Karachi Circular Railway Revival
KARACHI: The Sindh government and Pakistan Railways (PR) have agreed to work together on finalising the modalities for the long-delayed Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project.
The decision came during a meeting at the CM House on Friday, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and attended by Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi.
Collaborative Approach Proposed
According to a statement issued by the CM House, the chief minister stressed the urgent need for the revival of KCR, highlighting years of delays. He proposed that technical experts from both Sindh and PR jointly work on the project, with support from donor agencies and the private sector.
The federal government has already placed the project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, with feasibility reports awaiting approval from Chinese authorities.
Project Details
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Route Length: 43.2 km (25.51 km elevated, 17.7 km on-ground)
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Stations: 24 total (13 elevated, 11 on-ground)
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Capacity: Estimated 650,000 passengers daily
The KCR aims to provide vital east–west and north–south connectivity across Karachi, easing urban transport pressures.
Progress and Challenges
The meeting was informed that anti-encroachment operations had cleared over 11 acres of railway land near Drigh Road, Karachi University, Urdu College, and Gillani stations. However, encroachments still exist in areas including Liaquatabad and Urdu College.
CM Murad Ali Shah assured the federal minister that the Sindh government would continue supporting PR in anti-encroachment and rehabilitation work along the route.
Federal Support
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi welcomed the proposals and assured full federal cooperation in moving the project forward. Both sides agreed that experts will now jointly finalise operational modalities, station outsourcing, and new train services linked to KCR.
